Old Marley was as dead as a doornail: and so, nearly, was Christmas itself when Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843. Most traditions had been forgotten, and few if any employees got time off to celebrate. Dickens' story captured the imagination of a generation and transformed December 25th into a major holiday.

For many National Public Radio listeners, it wouldn't be Christmas without hearing Jonathan Winters perform A Christmas Carol. The master comedian brilliantly re-creates Dickens' cast of colorful characters: Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley's spirit, and the three Christmas ghosts, Past, Present, and Future. His distinctive and charming reading uses a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations.

Download and start listening now!

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Listener Opinions

Spring | 6/28/2011

" A must have! I marveled at the descriptive skills of Charles Dickens.a great read.
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Ruthy | 6/25/2011

" I've always wanted to read the real version of this story and because I've grown hearing it every Christmas, I never bothered to actually read it. There was nothing new to add but yet, I still enjoyed it.
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Dodokins | 6/24/2011

" And every christmas, I ask myself what will I see when the spirits come?
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Philip | 6/23/2011

" Ebeneezer Scrooge - one of the best realised characters in literature :-)
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Zohaib | 6/23/2011

" This is a good book as good as the film perhaps even better
:)
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Heath | 6/21/2011

" You can't go wrong with Dickens. This is a classic that everyone should read.
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Cissi "Invisible but Invincible" | 6/20/2011

" One of my favorites. Can't wait to see my old school perform the play next year! So exciting! :)
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Caryl | 6/19/2011

" I finally read the book, and loved it! If you like the classic tale, the book is a fun read. The TV and film versions I've seen all have many direct quotes from Dickens.
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Steven | 6/14/2011

" Just delightful. Dickens is only surpassed by Disney.
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Amy | 6/13/2011

" Performed as a readers' theater in high school
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Hannah | 6/9/2011

" I think that this book was very vivid and creative because it has a moral within itself. It teaches you to be generous and kind to others, rather than be a selfish, greedy person that everybody will hate. This book is truly wonderful, almost like a classic within itself. Highly recommended.
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Rondell | 6/8/2011

" it was a pleasure reading this book because i think the guy at the end of all his trials learn that you cant be selfish ,greedy and mean all his life and he learn that being unselifish anf creshirish it for the best .

p.s i spelled a word wrong correct me...
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Margo | 6/5/2011

" I loved reading the original story because I have seen so many film versions of the Dickens classic. Dickens' writing style is well-crafted and entertaining as well. I found myself laughing at some of the side comments Dickens makes.
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Other Titles by Charles Dickens:

About the Author

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England, the second of eight children in a family continually plagued by debt. A legacy brought release from the nightmare of debtors’ prison and child labor and afforded him a few years of formal schooling. He worked as an attorney’s clerk and newspaper reporter until his early writings brought him the amazing success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. He was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and he remains popular, responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic characters.

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